Bottle delabeling apparatus



Aug. 1, 1950 w. D. KIMBALL ETAL Y 2,516,998

BOTTLE DELABELING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet l ww v INVENTORS WALLACE D. /f/MBALI.

BY A TTORNE V5 Aug. 1, 1950 w. D. KIMBALL ETAL BOTTLE DELABELING APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1944 Aug. 1, 1950 w. D. KIMBALL ETAL. 2,516,998

BOTTLE DELABELING APPARATUS med Feb. 15, 1944 fr sheets-sheet 5 Bv @@9@ www; 22AM A TT ORNE YS Augfl 1950 I w. D. KIMBALL ET AL 2,516,998

BOTTLE DELABELTNG APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aal/Q31?,

Aug. l, 1950 w. D. KIMBALL ET AL BOTTLE DELABELING VAppmfrus '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. l5, 1944 Zim;

Aug. l, 1950 w. D. KIMBALL ET AL 'BOTTLE DELABELING APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. l5, 1944 WALLACE INVENTOR5 l D. lf/MBLL wh i JOHN E CMM/VAN f .Jo/7W H. MQJL Ey BY ,hm/2W Ma l Y y THEIR ATTORNEYS Aug 1, 1950 w. D. KIMBALL. ETAT. 2,516,998

BOTTLE DELABELTNG APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1944 fr sheets-sheet 7 44 ma, 9M wmfw THEIR ATTORNEYS Patented ug. 1', 1 950 BOTTLE DELABELING APPARATUS Wallace B. Kimball, Middle `I-Iaddam, John F. Currivan, East Ilamptomand John H. Mosley, Portland, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Hartford-Empire Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application February 15, 1944, Serial No. 522,522

` i9 claims. (c1. 151o1l This invention relates to apparatus for delabeling bottles and the like and has for its general` object the provision of improved apparatus for Iremoving labels from used bottles which have been returned to the bottling plant for washing and refilling.

In preparing for relling with beverages and food products, it is customary to process the bottles in an appropriate apparatus. Most state laws require such bottles to be treated for specifled lengths of time in suitable cleansing solutions, such, for example, as a solution of caustic soda, for the purpose of cleaning the interiors of the bottles, the labels being removed as an in-` collection of sludge which interferes with the ac:

tion of the cleansing solutions necessitating frequent and costly replacement.

` The present invention aims to reduce the cost of preparing such bottles for reuse, the object being to provide an apparatus for removing the labels and all material adhering to the outsideI surfaces of the bottles prior to their` entrance into the` bottlewashing or cleaningl machine. The useful life of the expensive cleansing solutions used in the washing machine is thereby lengthened, and the frequency of replacement` of such solutions and the loss of time during shut downs of the equipment for such replacement are lessened.

`Another object of the invention is to provide` an apparatus which, with the application of a comparatively small amount of Water to soften the labels, will remove the greater portion of the labels and other matter from the exterior surfaces of the bottles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which, with the labels subjected to a short presoftening treatment in a pre-softening liquid, such as water, will effectively remove all traces of the labels and other matter adhering to the'bottles. l

Another object` of the inventionlis to provide an apparatus in which the label softening and i Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind which is adapted si.

multaneously to remove the labels from two label areas of the bottles, such for example, as labels on the body and those on the neck portions of the bottles.

`lrfurther object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for delabeling bottles in which,

during the label removal, the bottles do not come in contact with metal other than the support on which they slide, thereby reducing breakage and surface scratches to a minimum.

. The invention will be understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings which Fig. 2a is a plan view of the apparatus shown;

in Fig. la;

Fig.` 2c is a vertical cross section of the im-` mersing tank taken on line 2c-2c of Fig. 20L1ook` ing in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the plane indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1b look; ing from the left in the direction of the arrows` and drawn to an enlarged scale; l

Fig. 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section, als

drawn to an enlarged scale and taken on the plane `indicated by line 4--4 of Fig. 5, showingA that part of the apparatus which is at the rightI hand end as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken` on the plane indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 4

drawn to the same enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a detailed vertical transverse section showing by means of a greatly enlarged scale some of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3; and

e Fig. `7 is a fragmentary horizontal section. taken,

on broken line l"l--l of Fig. 6.;

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

and first considering briefly the general arrange-,- ment of theapparatus` as shown in Figs. 1b, 2bV and 3, thebottles B to be delabeled arel advancedi by fa continuously moving endless conveylorin dicated generally by reference numeral I.` They move `into a somewhat prolonged engagement with a rotating -elongatedlrotary scrubber. This device, indicated generally by reference numeral 2, preferably consists of a wiping rotor having stiff but yieldable, resiliently acting blades which produce a mechanical abrading, rubbing or wiping action. Such rotary scrubber acts upon the neck labels 3 as the bottles move to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, along the front side of conveyor l.

The bottles then move beyond the left hand end of the rotary scrubber or wiping rotor 2 Vand around the left end of endless conveyor l and into a similar prolonged engagement with a second elongated rotary scrubber indicated generally by reference numeral fi. This is identical with rotary scrubber 2 but is positioned at a lower elevation so that it acts upon the body labels 5.V During all of this time the bottles are continuously rotated about their own axes to subject all sides to the scrubbing or wiping action.

The labels are softened by the application of a suitable softening liquid, such, for example, as water which may be applied either during or previous to the action upon the labels ofthe rotary scrubbers or wiping rotors 2 and 4. The softenn ing liquid which is applied during the operation of the wiping rotors or scrubbers on the botties and labels is supplied in the form of a spray, one sprayer, indicated by numeral being directed at the right hand label removing mechanism and a second sprayer 'I at the left hand mechanism. yp

Operating in this manner the apparatus will remove substantially 80% of the labels from the surfaces of the bottles. By pre-softening the labels by immersion in a softening liquid such as Water for a period of about two minutes prior to the subjection oi the bottles to the wiping action of wiping rotors 2 and 4, these rotors will entirelyl remove the labels leaving no trace of them on the bottles. Sprayers 5 and 5, however, are preferably kept in operation in order to overcome the frictional drying effect of the blades of thewiping rotors on the bottles.

The immersion or pre-soakingA of the bottles takes place in an immersion tank 8 shown inFigs.

1a, 2d and 2c. The bottles are carried through y this tank in upright position, and hence the tank is shallow, being only of sufficient height to permit the bottles to be immersed sufficiently to cover the neck labels, and to provide space at the bottom for the collection of sludge.

Thebottles are supplied to tank 8 on anendless conveyor 9 above which there is preferably provided a liquid spraying device Ill'to partially fill the bottles to facilitate their immersion in the soaking liquid in tank 8. The bottles pass from conveyor 9 over ascuff plate I I and onto a downwardly inclined supporting rail I2, along which the bottles descend until their neck labels are below the level I3 of the liquid in tank 8.

In the example shown the bottles make' ve passes from end to end of tank B as indicated in Fig. 2a, but it willbe understood that the number of passes may be varied to suit the required time of immersion, the available space and other considerations. The bottles are carried through the tank on a series of conveying devices which may be referred to collectively as the tank conveyor I4, andon reach-ing the discharge side of tankv 2 are moved along an upwardly inclined rail I5 which elevates the bottles above the top ofthe tank. They then pass over a scuff plate I5 onto a feeding or transfer conveyor I9 between guide bars I8.

' Conveyor I9 comprises a smooth surfaced endless belt II supported on a driving roll and an vresiliently acting, although it is not necessaryy that the blade` material be inherently resilient-` because the wiping rotors arey operated'at such-iv idler roll 2l, the latter being journaled in the frame of the label removing apparatus (see Fig. 1b). Transfer conveyor i9 is driven by means of a chain 22 passing around a sprocket on the shaft of driving roll 2U.

Tank 8 may be provided with a. heating coil 23 under the control of a supply valve `24 for a suitable heating agent, such as steam. In localities where cold Weather is encountered during a par-t of the year it is desirable to avoid plunging the cold bottles, which perhaps contain ice, directly into hot water, in order to prevent breakage. Accordingly, tank 8 may be provided with a vertical partition 25. Heating coil 23 is arranged to heat the liquid in tank 8 at the rear of partition 25 only so that the bottles will not be immersed inl heated water until they reach this part of the tank.

The liquid within the compartment in front of partition 25 will be relatively cool particularly as water supply pipe- 26 may be arranged toYdeli-verl form in tank 8 and an outlet 28. maybeprovided? throughv Which'the sludgemay be periodically orr continuously removed.

The details of: the construction of tank con veyor I4 will be given after completing the de scription of the delabeling apparatus of Figs. 1b"` and 2b.

The frame of Vthe`label vremoving apparatusvr shown in Figs. lb and 2b is built up of structuralsteel shapes. At its right hand end it'supports` the driving mechanism, the feed and delivery conveyors and the right hand end bearings for.

the twoelongated rotary scrubbers or wiping It has a-flengthwfise portionl to support.V

rotors'. the bottle conveyor structure and the left end bearings for the rotary scrubbers.

The length of rotary'scrubbers or wiping rotors 2 and 4 may varyvv to some extent but is inthe" neighborhood of 12 `orl5 feet. Consequently, in

order to obtainthe requiredrigidity the shafts 29 and Sli-'of wipingfrotors 2 and A are constructed of khollow steel tubes several inches in diameter.-

They4 are also reinforced bythe blade supports as'- will appear shortly. These tubes are plugged at each end and fitted with bearing shafts 3| and heavy woven fabric, such as canvas. in the neighborhood oi .2%8 of an inch in thickness andare preferably provided with ribs 351 and 36 along both'their inner and outer edges. This material, whileof sufliciently yielding nature'` so that the bladesI willv bend tolapproximately the` position shown at d? in Figs. 6 and?, is extremely stiff so as to exert a` hard rubbingA actionagainst the Y surfaces ofV the bottles. The blades are a rotative speed that the centrifugal force acting on the blades is suflifcient to return them to their radial position after passi-ng position 3'!V and" leaving contact with the bottles.

The inner-corners or edges of the outer ribs` t exert a stripping, tearingforshearing acticxr.y

oii'ithe upper edges of thel`A` labels, as indicatedf in- Fig. fwhich supplements the' mere frictionl or rubbingaction of the blades against-tithe labels.-

shownlin` detail in Fig; 7, blades 34 are lprovided with `equally spaced transverse cuts or slots 33 which divide each blade fromiend to endV into a series of tongues or narrow blades 391. The width of these narrow bladesis somewhat less than thediameter of the bottlessotthat when onefof the tongues is opposite the center ofthe bottle, the corners of the adjacent tongues (see Fig.` 7) will engage the surfaceoof thelbottle.`

This has the effect of causing the blades tof engage a longer arcuate surface on Ieach bottle than if the slots Bti-were omitted and thebladee were" continuous. Y

The inner ribs t areffor the purpose offassisting nin attaching `the linner margins of the blades r ablycurved bachwardly asishown at 42 to `prevent cutting into the bladeswhen the blades are bent to theirextremelycurvdiposition as indi-- catediat t? in Fig. 6. The blades `are 'removably secured tothe outer margins-of supports lill by means of bolts 43 which pass through spaced holes in the blades in metal strips M which extend from end to end of supports All. The inner edges of strips 44 engage the ribs tthus providing a continuous line of attachment throughout the length of the blades 1which is desirable in view of the very considerable centrifugal` force to `which l the blades are subjected.

To `properly support `the bottlesfagainst `the vigorousaction of the rotatinglblades, they are' caused to slidein upright `position on frigid` supporting rails te andllt which forma part of con# veycr l. These rails eachconsist of a relatively thin but deep metal bar. They are mounted as shown` in` Figs. 3` and 6.011 the: central frame ofv the? `apparatus which extends substantially throughout its entire lengthi The reaction of the pressure of `the wiping blades `is. taken `in part by oftwo non-metallic neck rails 47 and d8. `These `railslare mounted on the `upper `part ofthe central frame and entend throughout the lengths of the two wiping rotors i2 and 4, respectively.

Conveyor l comprises two f parallel endless chains, an upper'chain` Iaand` a lower chain lb, having L-shaped pocket fingers 4S secured to them and maintained bythe chains inl vertical alinernent to form individuali bottlepockets. The lateral legs of flngersltll` are thicker than the longitudinal and suitably space-the bottles apart toobtain the most 'effective action of the wiping blades'in removing the labels. Such spacingA is indicated to beabout one-half the diameter of the bottles. indicated at lectin Figeto increase their strength andto forni` a roundedtseat against which the vyor. Lfromtheftransfer conveyor 1.9i m1 Pocket fingers Il@ also are filleted as Pocket lingers 'llgiare preferablyl madehof 'all tough non-metallic material which has a degree` of resiliency providing a cushioning eifect `witliw` Neck rails 41 and/48:

the surfaces of the bottles. are also preferably made of the same material'w Amaterial known as Micarta has `been found` well adapted for this purpose and is preferred.`

This material consists of layers of woven. cotton` fabric united under heat and pressure by means of a phenolic condensation product such as Bakelite p With this construction the bottles are notfin i contact with metal, other than the supporting rails 45 and Mi, during the entire time that tlnelsfs` are fsubjecedto the delabeling action oflthelrotate i ing wiping blades. The liability of bottle breakfi age is in this way reduced to a minimum.

The Vpocket lingers le are mounted onaltern'atef links` of each of the chains la and lb by means i of supports 5d which are formed integral with such links. type having rollers 5l. These chains are sup-i ported and guided between upper and lowerupairs of tracks 5t and e3, respectively. These tracks d are constructed as a part of the central frame of blades 34.

Conveyor chains la and l b are supported at the left hand end fby a pair of idler sprockets 5W Y which rotate on a supporting shaft mounted 1in 'the apparatus frame and adjustable asindicated f. in Fig. lb to take upslack in theA conveyor. At'

their right hand-ends conveyor chains lo and lo pass over a pair of driving sprockets dwhich are keyed to the vertical driving shaft tjourw naled in suitable brackets `attached to the Ina-i chine frame.

This shaft is driven through beveled gearing 41, a horizontal `shaft 5B and beveled gearing '59 from a second vertical shaft Sil. The upper end of shaft t0 is drivingly connected by means of a coupling 6l with an output shaft 62A of al reducing gearing d3 mounted on top of themachine `fra-nie. Input shaft (lil `of this gearing `ist` driven by an operating motor 65 through `a belt@ drive indicated generally `by numeral til.

Reducing gear mechanism t3 is `provided with a second and horizontal output shaft tl on which is a sprocket E8, and the tank` conveyor i4 iof the immersing tank is driven from this sprocket l by meansof a chained which is trained around a sprocket lll which is a part of the driving#- meohanism of tank conveyor lll, tovbeldescribed. In= this way conveyor -llnl and the pocket conveyor l of the label removing apparatus aredriven byf the same operating motorl W5 and it will be underr stood that the arrangement is such that these" two conveyors move at the samelinear speed.` AReferring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the two wiping rotors 2'and il are driven by a second` operating motor ll by means of the chain drive mechanism illustrated. Shaft 'l2 of motor 'H` has keyedto it two driving sprockets le and'lfl. Wiping `motor 2 is driven from this sprocket by means fof a chain 'le which passes around af larger sprocketl fixed near the right hand end of `wiping rotor shaft 2d. The rotation of motor shaft `l2 being counterclockwisa wiping rotorf2f.` rotates in the same direction. y `Wiping rotor 4, however, rotates fin the clock wise direction necessitating a different arranged nient;k All chain 'Hl-passes around -lasprocketf Chains la and lb are of therollerV n wiping rotor' shaft 38 of the same size as sprocket i6. This chain passes around an idler sprocket 19 which is mounted on a bracket 80 xed near the top of the machine frame, and thence the outside or back of chain Il passes around a sprocket 8l which is mounted on another bracket immediately below bracket 88. Alongside of sprocket 8| is a second sprocket 82, these two sprockets being secured together so as to rotate as a unit. Sprocket 82 (and therefore sprocket 8l) is driven by means of a chain 83 from driving sprocket 'hl on motor shaft 12.

The bottles, while being acted upon by the wiping rotors 2 and 4 are turned or rotated on their own axes by means of a spinning chain 84. This chain is driven from a driving sprocket 85 from the lower end of a vertical shaft 68 which rotates at the saine speed as vertical shaft 58 which drives conveyor i. Driving sprocket 85 being larger in diameter than driving sprockets 55 for conveyor i, the spinning chain 84 is operated in the same direction but at a higher linear speed than the chains Ia and lb of conveyor I.

The left hand end of spinning chain 84 is carried on a sprocket (not shown) which is mounted midway between sprockets 54 for chains la and Ib and on the same vertical shaft on which these two sprockets are mounted. Hence the slack in all three chains may be adjusted by the same adjusting mechanism.

It will be understood from the previous description, as well as from the drawings, particularly Fig. 6, that the vertical spacing and arrangement of conveyor chains la and Ib and the pocket fingers 49 carried whereby is such as to place the lower pocket lingers 49 in en gagement with the bottles just above the supm porting track 46, whereas the upper fingers 49 engage the bottles near the top of their body portions and just below the neck curvature. This spacing not only affords effective support for the sides of the bottles, but also provides room for spinning chain S4 substantially midway in the vertical direction between the chains la and Ib.

Alternate links of spinning chain 84 carry friction blocks 85 which extend vertically below and above chain 84 a sufcient distance to pro- Vide an adequate area of contact with the bottles to cause the bottles to turn in their pockets formed between adjacent pocket fingers 49, the bottles being urged against these friction blocks by the pressure of the wiping blades 34. These blocks may consist of automotive brake lining material.

The outer surfaces of friction blocks 86 are adjusted suiiiciently to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, to cause the reaction due to the exed wiping blades 34 to be taken by the friction blocks rather than by the longitudinal surface of the L-shaped pocket lingers 49. To this end both sides or reaches of spinning chain 84 are outwardly braced by means of idler sprockets 8l appropriately spaced throughout the operative length of chain 84 (Fig. 4). These idler sprockets are yieldably and resiliently mounted as shown in Figs. 6, 3 and 4, each sprocket being carried by a vertical shaft Sla, the ends of which rotate in bearing brackets 88 having rodelike Shanks 88a which are slidably mounted in apertures in the central part of the machine frame. Helical springs 88h surrounding these shanks bias the bearing brackets in a direction to urge sprockets 81 toward the back of spinning chain 84.

Both of the bottle rails 45 and 46 are placed at the same level to correspond with the -two sides or reaches of the conveyor chains la and Ib and of the Yspinning chain 84. The wiping rotors 2 and 4, however, are mounted preferably at different elevations so that their blades will operate on different label areas of the bottles. Preferably also, wiping rotor 2 which cooperates with the incoming sides of the conveyor I is arranged to remove the labels from the upper label area, and wiping rotor 4 is arranged to remove the labels from the lower label area. Thus rotor 2 is mounted at a somewhat high elevation than rotor 4, as shown in Fig. 3, rotor 2 removing the neck labels and rotor 4 the side labels.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the bottles enter conveyor I on the front side of the apparatus substantially opposite its vertical driving shaft 58 and leave the conveyor at substantially the same position on the rear side of shaft 58. It is desirable to remove friction blocks 86 of spinning chain 84 from contact with the bottles as they enter and as they leave conveyor I. Accordingly two flanged rollers 89 are arranged to coact with the friction blocks 86, one on each side of chain 84, so as to carry the two sides of the chain toward one another in the vicinity of driving shaft 58, thereby causing the friction blocks to recede from contact with the bottles both while they are fed into the conveyor and discharged therefrom. These anged rollers 89 are mounted on laterally adjustable brackets 99 which in turn are supported on a vertical frame member 9! substantially midway between the two vertical driving shafts 58 and 6D.

Rollers 89 serve an additional purpose since by adjusting their supporting brackets, the tautness of spinning chain 84 can be adjusted independently of the tautness of conveyor chains I a and Ib.

The conveyor belt I9 which serves as a transfer and feed conveyor between tank 8 and the label removing apparatus carries the bottles between the side guides I9a and feeds them between pocket fingers 49 as they complete their rounding of driving sprockets 55. The bottles pass from the end of conveyor I9 onto a horizontal platform 92 across which they are moved diagonally between the bent end 93 of the inner guide I9a and a spring or resilient guide member 94. A portion of this guide is parallel to the end 93 and is secured at its right hand end to a bracket which is alined with the end of outer guide I9a. The left hand portion of guide member 94 is substantially parallel with the side of conveyor I and retains the bottles in their pockets until they reach the front end of wiping rotor 2.

The resiliency of member 94 urges the bottles into the respective pockets as the pocket fingers 49 move around sprockets 55 and close the open spaces between them to form the bottle pockets.- Member 94 is provided with an adjustable stop 25 indicated by reference numeral 95 to limit its outward movement. The bottles are fed forward over the horizontal plate 92 by the line pressure of the bottles on feed conveyor belt I9, this belt being operated at a linear speed which is greater than that of conveyors 9 and I.

The delivery conveyor 96 is similar to conveyor I9 but is operated in the opposite direction by means of a pulley 91 and carries the delabeled bottles to the bottle washing machine. The bottles as they reach a position substantially opposite shaft 58 on the delivery side of the apparatus are stripped from the pockets in conveyor I by means of a bar 98 which may form the left hand end of Aone of the `conveyor guides. The `bottles move `forward-over a horizontal platform .95 onto conveyor belt 95.

Wiping rotors '2 and 4 are surrounded by hoodlike casings lili! and lili, intothe topsof which the Asprayers and 7| discharge. These serve to corinne the mist or showerof water .produced by the sprayers :andthe rotors `and to direct the water at the bottom of thefapparatus into a sloping collecting tray m2. The direction of rotation .of the rotors is `such as to carry `the spray directly onto `the labels. The water from collecting tray H52 is discharged into tank ||i3 at'the left of the :apparatus from which it may be recirculated by means oi` a suitable pump MM through pipe H35 `and A coni'frol valve `1| 0'6 to the sprayers :i5 and l. Tank M13 is `provided uwith strainer lill on which the `bits of paper, etc., .removed from `.the bottles collect. `This `serves `to clarify the wwater before it re-enters pump ltd and `it :serves also as a means .of removing the paper :refuse from Ythe apparatus.

Returning :now :to describing the construction of tank conveyor ill, this conveyor comprises a series of cooperating endless conveyors tilt, tilt;

||rll :and These ifour endless conveyors are driven rin timed relation to .one another atthe` same `speed .and `provision `is made for the bot-` tles `received from supply conveyor 9 to `beitransferred 4from one -endless conve-yor to the other until the bottles, after completing a horizontal serpentine path through tank `8, are discharged from endless conveyor to transfer conveyor I9. The number .of these endless conveyors I-elil can be increased or decreased to provide the required length .of travel and time of immersion as previously referred to.

'This :series of endless conveyors ,is carried by a series of driving sprockets H2 at one end of Atank 8 `and a series of idler sprockets `||3 at the `opposite end. Idler sprockets H3 are .carried `by vertical shafts Ill-l journaled at their lower ends in brackets xed to Athe bottom of tank 8 and at their upper ends in a cross inember H5. Driving sprockets ||2 are similarly mounted `on vertical shafts llt. Shafts H5 are jonrnaled at their upper `ends in a cross member lll' and immediately below this member there is .a series or' intermeshing spur gears H18, one lor" `which is keyed to each of the respective shafts Ilt. `.'.lhese gears ||6 are of the same diameter and consequently cause `the `rotation of each oi adjacent shafts HS in `opposite directions but at the same speed.

Inorder to .drive theiconveying apparatus, one of the `vertical shafts 'i iii is provided at its upper :end a `beveled gear il@ which meshes with ,a second bevel gear l2!) on a horizontal shaft 12|. `Shaft l2| "has keyedto it sprocket fill around .which is `trained the driving chain vEril previously referred vto and which is driven by operating motor d5 through the reducing gearingrt..

Sprockets 2 and M3 4which support endless conveyors ldd-1 li are all of the same diameter and .are spaced `on the ,same centers so that lthe sides ror 'stretches of these -conveyors are parallel to :oneanother as shown in 2c. Each of `the four endless .conveyors is provided with L-shaped bottleeengaging members which form `along the straight stretches of the conveyors open-s`ided bottle pockets. 4Cm the incoming conveyor WS and `the discharge conveyor these pocket members `are indicated "by numeral |22, and ion the intermediate conveyors Hi8 :and I Ill they 10 i are indicated by numeral |23. |22 are considerably taller than pocket members |23 in order to engage the incoming bottles after they pass `over the top of `tank 8 `along scuif plate and onto the downwardly inclinedv supporting rail l2 Vand to push the bottles along this .inclined `rail as they are lowered into the liquid. For a similar reason `such tall bottleengaging members are required on the dischargeV conveyor -in order to push the bottles along the upwardly inclined rail t5.

Thebottles, xafter passing over scui .plate il,

are delivered into the pockets between pocket i members L22'ofinoomingconveyor |08 byrneans 1 of star wheel i243/ As theydescend along the inclined supporting rail l2 they 'are held in the 'ockets by a side rail |25 and by an -upper rail |26 `which is desirable, particularly if the bottles doinot receive .a sufcient quantity of Water .from the spraying device `lil to cause them to sink `readily below the surface I3 of the tank liquid. These guide `rails |25 `and |25 extend around the end of conveyor VHi8 as its swings i around .sprocket l l2.

` The ibottle-engagi-ngmembers |22 and |23 are provided with iinter-tting portions as shownin Fig. 2c .and thewadjacent .endless conveyors `are close enough together so that as .the bottles` l travel :between adjacent conveyors they are sup. ported in lpar-t by -each conveyor.

bottle` .is partly within Aa pocket of reach chain.

As the bottles traveling between conveyors :Lilli and `l Bil .reach the right .hand end of tank 8 they are engaged by aetripping guide '|21 whichistrips g the bottles from the pockets `of `conve-yor 8 and causes-them to be carried entirely in .the .pockets of `.conveyor |09 .as -they travel `around idler i `Then sprocket H3 supporting this conveyor. the -bottlesmake another pass through the tank, being 4carried between adjacent conveyors `|09 and Hl). As they reach the left hand end -of the conveyors, a stripping guide |28` removes thernifrom conveyor Y| 05 .and guides them around sprocket l2 yoficonveyor IU and in between conveycr-s |||l .and `lll.. At the right hand end ad` jacent idlersprocket I3 of conveyor i||| `a 'third stripping guide |29 removes the bottles .from conveyor |||J and after passing around sprocket ||3 they start 'upwardly along the inclined 4rail I5 on their discharge stretch. Along this i stretch the `:bottles are 'retained in the pockets or conveyor lil bymeans-of aside guide H30 and a top guide `|31 which are similar to guides l|25 and il 26 respectively. i

By means of the present-.inventionranapparatus kins and other matter adhering thereto which i. `diave heretofore fserved `to contaminate the treating solutions required by State laws `to be usedrin the bottle washers.

Our idelabeling .apparatus maintains lthe bottles in upright position and, in so` doing, causes them .to retain any liquid which may have entered `them while in label `softening tank :8 or from 'sprayers 6 and '1. Evenishould the bottles be rdrainedibe.-

forereaching :the washing -maohinetheir interiors Willhave been pre-wetted and'partially soaked.

For the purpose offsetting forth `our invention, .i

Pocket members That is to say, the chains are synchronized so that the" pockets travel opposite one another so that each we have described in some detail one particular embodiment of the improved delabeling apparatus. It is to be understood, however, that our invention is not limited to the particular apparatus disclosed but that changes in the construction and also in the arrangement of the various parts can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the wiping rotor type of ro-tary scrubber is preferable because of its effective action, it will be understood that other forms of elongated rotary scrubbing devices may be employed without departing from the invention, and it is our intention that the scope of the invention shall be limited only by the existing prior` `art and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, a continuously moving endless conveyor adapted to move a plurality of bottles in a U-shaped path, the legs of said path being on opposite sides of the conveyor, a pair of elongated wiping rotors each having a plurality of wiping blades, one of said rotors cooperating with each side of said endless conveyor, means for rotating said wiping rotors to remove labels from the bottles as they are carried along by said conveyor, the wiping rotors on opposite sides of the conveyor being arranged to engage portions of said bottles at diiferent distances from their bottoms whereby to remove labels from a plurality of label areas on the bottles.

2. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, two elongated horizontal rotary scrubbers mo-unted for rotation with their axes in spaced parallel relation, and an endless conveyor for continuously moving bottles into engagement with said rotary scrubbers, both reaches of said conveyor being disposed between said scrubbers and parallel' thereto.

3. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, two elongated horizontal rotary scrubbers mounted for rotation with their axes in spaced parallel relation, a continuously moving endless conveyor carried by two driving sprockets rotating on vertical shafts for continuously moving bottles into engagement with said rotary scrubbers, both reaches of said conveyor being disposed between said scrubbers and parallel thereto, said conveyor having open pockets adapted to receive individual bottles `and expose the sides thereof to the action of said scrubbers, means for continuously feeding the bo-ttles into said pockets and continuously removing them from said pockets ladjacent opposite sides of one of said conveyor sprockets, the f bottles being carried around the sprocket at the opposite end of the conveyor and thereby subjected first to the action of one of said rotary scrubbers and subsequently to the action of the other of said rotary scrubbers.

4. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, two elongated horizontal rotary scrubbers mounted for rotation with their axes in spaced parallel relation, a continuously moving endless conveyor carried by two sprockets rotating on vertical shafts for continuously moving bottles into engagement with said rotary scrubbers, both reaches of said conveyor being disposed between said scrubbers and parallel thereto, the axis of one of said scrubbers being at a higher elevation than that of the other scrubber to cause them to act upon different label areas, means for continuously feeding the bottles into the pockets of said conveyor and continuously removing them therefrom adjacent opposite sides of one of said conveyor sprockets, the bottles being carried around the sprocket at the other end of the conveyor and thereby having their labels removed first from one of said label areas and subsequently from the otherof said label areas.

5. In a delabeling apparatus, an elongated rotary scrubber, means for rotating the same, a conveyor for moving bottles lengthwise of said rotary scrubber comprising two vertically spaced endless chains each provided with pocket fingers maintained in vertical alinement to engage the bodies of the bottles and a spinning chain carrying friction blocks arranged to bear against the sides of the bottles to rotate them as they are 'moved by the conveyor in engagement with said rotary scrubbers, said spinning chain being operl ated at a different speed from the conveyor.

6. In a delabeling apparatus, an elongated rotary scrubber, means for rotating the same, a

conveyor for moving bottles lengthwise of said rotary scrubber comprising two vertically spaced endless chains each provided with pocket fingers ously driven rotor having a plurality of substantially radial blades positioned substantially parallel with the rotor axis, a structure for supporting a bottle with its axis substantially at right angles to said rotor axis and in a position to bring the label on sa-id bottle into the path of said rotating blades.

8. A bottle delabeling apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the blades of the rotor consist of stiff but not inflexible material to exert a hard rubbing action against the surface of the label.

9. A bottle delabeling apparatus as set forth in claim 'E' in which the blades 0f the rotor have a thickening edge forming a rib which acts to tear the edge of the label from the bottle.

l0. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, a continuously driven elongated rotor having a plurality of substantially radial blades extending lengthwise thereof, a structure for supporting a row of bottles with the horizontal line passing through the upper edges of the labels on said bottles parallel with the axis of said rotor and to bring said labels into the path of said rotating blades, said blades consisting of stiff but not inflexible material to exert a hard rubbing action against said labels, and said blades also having equally spaced. transverse cuts extending inwardly from their edges and dividing each blade from end to end into a series of sections each of about the same extent as the diameter of the bottles.

ll. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, an elongated rotor having a plurality of elongated wiping blades extending longitudinally of the rotor,

means for rotating the same, and a conveyor for continuously moving the bottles lengthwise of the rotating elongated wiping rotor with the sides of the bottles in engagement therewith to cause the labels to be wiped from the bottles.

12. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, an elongated rotor having a plurality of elongated wiping blades extending longitudinally of the rotor,

means for rotating the same, means for applying pockets adapted to receive individual bottles and support them with their axes at substantially right angles to the direction of movement, said pockets being open at one side and adapted to receive individual bottles and expose the sides thereof, an elongated rotor having a plurality of wiping blades positioned parallel with said path and adjacent thereto to engage the bottles and hold them in their pockets as they are moved by the conveyor, means for applying a softening liquid to soften the labels on the bottles and means for rotating said rotor to remove the labels,

14. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, a continuously moving conveyor adapted to move a plurality of bottles in a straight path and having pockets adapted to receive individual bottles and support them with their axes at substantially right angles to the direction of movement, said pockets being open at one side and adapted to receive individual bottles and expose the sides thereof, an elongated rotor having a plurality of wiping blades positioned parallel with said path and adjacent thereto to engage the bottles and hold them in their pockets as they are moved by the conveyor, means for applying a softening liquid to soften the labels on the bottles, means for rotating said rotor to remove the labels, and mechanism for turning the bottles as they are moved along said path to cause their entire peripheries to be exposed to the action of the wiping blades.

15. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, a continuously moving endless conveyor adapted to move a row of bottles in each of two straight paths on opposite sides of the conveyor, a pair of elongated wiping rotors each having a plurality of wiping blades, one `of said rotors cooperating with each side of said endless conveyor, and means for rotating said wiping rotors to remove labels from the bottles of each of said rows simultaneously as they are carried along said conveyor.

16. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, a continuously moving conveyor adapted to move a plurality of bottles in a straight path and having pockets adapted to receive individual bottles and support them with their axes at substantially right angles to the direction of movement, said pockets being open at one side and constructed and arranged to receive individual bottles and expose the sides thereof, an elongated rotary scrubber positioned parallel with said path and adjacent thereto engaging the bottles and holding them in their pockets as they are moved by the conveyor, and mechanism for turning the bottles as they are moved along said path to cause the entire peripheries to be exposed to the action of the rotary scrubber, and means for rotating said scrubber to remove the labels.

17. In a bottle delabeling apparatus, an elongated rotary scrubber, means for rotating the same, a conveyor for continuously moving the bottles lengthwise of said rotary scrubber with the sides of the bottles in engagement therewith, a horizontal stationary rail arranged at a suitable elevation above the conveyor to engage the necks of the bottles as they are moved by theV conveyor, said neck rail and said conveyor being adapted to provide the reaction of the pressure of the rotary scrubbers to maintain the bottles in engagement therewith.

18. In a delabeling apparatus, a horizontal elongated rotary scrubber, means for rotating the same, a horizontal supporting rail arranged at the side of said rotary scrubber and parallel therewith for supporting bottles in engagement with said scrubber, and a conveyor for continuously moving the bottles lengthwise of said rail, said conveyor being adapted to expose the sides of said bottles and to maintain them in engagement with the rotary scrubber.

19.111 a delabeling apparatus, a horizontal elongated rotary scrubber, means for rotating the same, a horizontal supporting rail arranged at the side of said rotary scrubber and parallel therewith for supporting bottles in engagement with said rotary scrubber, and a conveyor for continuously moving the bottles lengthwise of said rail, said conveyor having pocket fingers forming pockets for individual bottles to expose the sides of the bottles to the action of said rotary scrubbers as they move along said supporting rail and maintaining the bottles in spaced relation to one another to facilitate action of the rotary scrubbers in removing the labels therefrom. l

WALLACE D. KIMBALL. JOHN F. CURRIVAN.

J OAI-IN I-I. MOSLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i-lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name lDate Re. 11,175 Merrill July 17, 1891 885,912 Chilton Apr. 28, 1908 973,178 Dawson Oct. 18, 1910 1,214,278 Cole Jan. 30, 1917 1,273,603 Gallup et al Julyl 23, 1918 1,609,035 Nixon Nov. 30, 1926 1,782,018 Staines Nov. 18, 1930 2,051,090 Ladewig et al. 1"--- Aug. 18, 1936 2,219,007 Dostal Oct. 22, 1940 

